On Nov. 7 the Baker Ballroom was filled, with many attendees sitting on the floor due to the lack of seating.

Ali’s humor was akin to a stand up comic, and his message resonated with everyone in the room. Humor served as an important tool when talking about such an issue as Islamaphobia.

“The universe is made of stories, not atoms…. If you aren’t writing your story, it is being constantly written by others….Even if the Day of Judgment is around the corner, plant the seed,” Ali said.

Ali’s message was that in order to fight Islamaphobia in the United States, more Americans need to meet and talk to Muslim people.

He stated that “60 percent of Americans don’t know a Muslim.” Ali used a lot of great statistics like this one to paint a picture of the cause of the divide between cultures.

Ali also stated that the world has been portraying this phenomenon as Islam vs. the West, or the West vs. Islam. He argued that it was needed to break down this divisive barrier and instead begin to talk to and know our fellow human brothers and sisters.